Hands down the best value Tuscan coastal red $31

Readers will find plenty to admire in these wines from Querciabella…I find the 2021s especially intriguing because of their dynamic energy and textural finesse. It is a late-ripening vintage at Querciabella that yielded seriously impressive wines. ANTONIO GALLONI

The wines are true to their roots, offer lovely harmony and drinkability with excellent complexity. Even better is the fact that the farming here is biodynamic, a welcome practice for the environment and a philosophy that has taken the wines of Querciabella to another level…. The word ethereal truly applies to the character of these wines…TOM HYLAND, Forbes.com.au

The Tuscan Coast is one of the most idyllic, evocative regions in Italy and beyond. Breathtaking landscapes dotted with striking vineyards influenced by the nearby Tyrrhenian Sea give birth to compelling wines that run the gamut from daily drinkers to highly coveted, age-worthy reds that stand with the very best wines from around the world. ANTONIO GALLONI, vinous.com

Today, Super Tuscan wines include some of the most formidable names recognized worldwide. They are expensive but often worth every penny. But there are of course many affordable “Super Tuscans” too. JAMES SUCKLING

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Let’s sidestep from the heart of Querciabella in Chianti Classico and head to the coastal Tuscan oasis of Maremma. Here you find sangiovese alongside Bordeaux varietals such as cabernet, merlot and cabernet franc. It’s expensive turf over here, and usually the wines carry hefty price tags. But have we got the best value Tuscan red ever – I think so.

The coastal wines are admired for their suave and stylish compositions. Sun-rich and buffed with polished and smooth tannins. In the past, oak has been a feature but the savvy winemaker Manfred Ing (ex-Vietti) now uses only concrete which helps capture the purity and vivacity of this dinner delight.

Mongrana is the wine to reach for that pleases both European and Aussie tastebuds – a beautiful collision of two wine worlds, French and Italian. Sangiovese takes the lead, supported by cabernet and merlot in the blend. No new oak is now used, it’s a gorgeously fruited and wonderfully appealing, mid-weight, coastal red that is unhindered by artifice or bulked down by unnecessary inputs.

The beauty of this fleshy red lies in its sophisticated delivery, after all, Maremma and in particular Bolgheri have always been in the hands of the aristocrats (I once went as hired help to a cingale hunting weekend – unfortunately the dogs lost the scent and my scope of duties broadened to chasing the wild pigs down to the hunters awaiting their loot?! True story). 

Back to the wine, cooler summers and warmer winters on the Tuscan coast are ideal for Bordeaux varieties. What usually prohibits these wines is their hefty pricetags – not so with this organically grown beauty. It’s a staple autumn/winter wine in our house, something for when I want to feel a little stylish without burning a hole in the pocket. And it never fails to impress my friends!  

This suave red captures everything we love about the Tuscan coastline. Grown on gravelly and clay soils in the proximity of the sea, its dense core of black and red berries is flecked with a graphite streak. Sinewy sangiovese tannins elongate its delivery, corralling a core of spiced black, red and sour cherries over the line. I can’t argue with Galloni when he says the 21 ‘is terrific. Bright and punchy, with gorgeous fruit purity, the 2021 is a delicious…’

This won't take years to become approachable and it won’t burn a hole in your pocket. There’s a lovely synergy between the soils and grapes. It's drinking nicely now, no need to age this.

We’re offering it for $33 each in a 6 pack or $31 each in a dozen buy! This wine has a lot of repeat offenders, there’s a delicious reason for that.  

Cheers

Gabrielle